Senior Database Administrator

Job Purpose

Azure Database Platforms

• Administer and optimize Azure SQL Database, including elastic pools and Managed Instance where applicable.
• Design, operate, and tune Azure Cosmos DB partitioning, consistency, request-unit management, indexing, and multi-region distribution.
• Manage Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server, including configuration, extensions, and high availability.
• Implement monitoring, alerting, capacity planning, Azure Policy, tagging, cost controls, and platform standards.

Hybrid Database Operations

• Operate Microsoft SQL Server on servers or virtual machines, including installation, patching, configuration, high availability, and lifecycle management.
• Administer PostgreSQL on servers or virtual machines, including configuration, maintenance, extensions, replication, and backups.
• Establish runbooks, change control, and incident and problem management for hybrid database estates.
• Assess technical debt and recommend modernization from server-hosted databases to Azure PaaS.

Migration and Modernization

• Lead migration assessments for Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL workloads to Azure using rehost, replatform, or refactor approaches.
• Use Azure Database Migration Service, Azure Migrate, and related tools for discovery, dependency analysis, and cutover planning.
• Define target architectures for Azure SQL Database, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, and Cosmos DB where appropriate.
• Plan and execute migration, validation, rollback, and hypercare activities with application and infrastructure teams.

Performance, Security, and Resilience

• Tune queries, indexes, and configurations to meet service-level objectives across supported database platforms.
• Design high-availability and disaster-recovery strategies using geo-replication, failover groups, backups, point-in-time recovery, and drills.
• Implement authentication, authorization, encryption, auditing, least privilege, Defender, Key Vault, and private networking controls.
• Ensure backup, restore, and retention policies meet recovery objectives and regulatory requirements.

Collaboration and Delivery

• Advise architects, developers, DevOps teams, and project managers during project delivery.
• Coach junior DBAs and engineers through knowledge sharing.
• Support agile delivery with clear change, release, and rollback practices.
• Produce assessments, runbooks, and implementation plans for platform readiness and migrations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Six to eight years of enterprise Database Administrator experience.
• Hands-on experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
• Experience administering Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL on servers or virtual machines.
• Experience with high availability, disaster recovery, performance tuning, backup and recovery, migration assessment, and production incidents.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Azure database platforms, hybrid operations, security, private networking, monitoring, and cost optimization.
• Proficiency in T-SQL and PostgreSQL SQL, with PowerShell, Bash, or Python scripting for automation.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected Framework principles.
• Familiarity with agile delivery and collaboration with DevOps or cloud engineering teams.

Certifications

• DP-300 and AZ-104 are listed under professional certification.
• DP-900, AZ-305, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, and PostgreSQL certification are preferred.
• Oracle Database administration and Oracle coexistence experience are added-value qualifications.